Monthly Archives: August 2012

DODGE CITY, Kan. – To say Steven Dent is hot is a bit of an understatement. The No. 1 bareback rider in ProRodeo just padded his lead a little bit more by winning the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo championship and adding $4,091. It pushed his 2012 earnings to $95,000 and gives him a little lead over three-time world champion Will Lowe. “I won this rodeo in 2008, so it’s nice to win it again,” said Dent, a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Mullen, Neb. Dent rode Harry Vold Rodeo Co.’s Pillow Talk for 89 points on Sunday night to win the championship go-round. His two-ride total of 166 points helped Dent edge Steven Peebles by one point. “I had her at San Antone this year,” Dent said of the horse and the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo. “She wasn’t quite that good, and I was way worse. I was 81 on her. They were just 91 on her, so I know I had a chance. “That’s a great horse.” It’s also a young horse, but that seems to be the winning trick for Dent, an all-around cowboy who also competed in saddle bronc riding in Dodge City. “The last time I won, I came back in the bottom hole that time, too,” he said, referring to finishing 12th in the first round, just barely making it into the final-day field – Dent’s 77-point ride earlier in the rodeo meant a four-way tie for ninth place. “That time, I had Full Baggage when we didn’t know anything about that horse.” Full Baggage was named the 2011 Bareback Riding Horse of the Year. Pillow Talk is a young horse from the Vold ranch in Fowler, Colo. “I’ve been drawing great colts here,” Dent said. The horse bucked hard in a circular pattern, but the Nebraska cowboy continued his spurring motion with each leap. He was rewarded well. “We were making a lot of rounds, and there was a lot going on,” he said. “I just tried to keep going at her. You never know how many you’re going to be on one like that, so you just have to keep going at it.” Dent won more than $23,000 during Cowboy Christmas, the pseudonym for a group of lucrative rodeos around the Fourth of July holidays. That propelled him in the lead for the world standings. Only the top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the season ending championship that takes place in Las Vegas in December. The goal is to be atop the money list when the NFR concludes, thereby earning the coveted, yet elusive, world champion’s gold buckle. Dent fell just short of that goal in his first venture the NFR in 2008, falling to eventual titlist Justin McDaniel of Porum, Okla. “I went in with a decent lead, then Justin had the best finals anybody had until last year, and I lost it by $5,000,” Dent said. “When you look back throughout the year, there are plenty of times you could’ve won $5,000. I’ve learned a lot by traveling with Bobby (Mote) in past years to not let those opportunities slip.” Mote is a four-time world champion, and he’s been in that position before, too. Dent now travels with fellow NFR qualifiers Ryan Gray of Cheney, Wash., and Jason Havens of Prineville, Ore. “Those guys are just so positive all the time, and they both ride great,” Dent said. “Jason’s been in the worst drawing slumps I’ve ever seen, and he’s still positive. You can learn a lot from that.” You can also learn a lot from winning. “I’ve just been trying to do my job,” he said. Other Dodge City winners were all-around champion Cody DeMoss, who won money in team roping and saddle bronc riding; steer wrestler Billy Bugenig; team ropers Chad Masters and Clay O’Brien Cooper; saddle bronc rider Chuck Schmidt; tie-down roper Justin Maass; barrel racer Kaley Bass; and bull rider Trey Benton III. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 31-Aug. 5 All-Around Champion: Cody DeMoss, $4,041 in team roping and saddle bronc riding. Bareback riding: Final round: 1. Steven Dent, 89 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Pillow Talk, $1,650; 2. Will Lowe, 85, $1,250; 3. (tie) Jared Keylon and Steven Peebles, 83, $750 each; 5. Kyle Brennecke, 82, $350; 6. Wes Stevenson, 81, $250. Average: 1. Steven Dent, 166 points on two rides, $2,441; 2. Steven Peebles, 165, $1,871; 3. Matt Bright, 164, $1,383; 4. (tie) Will Lowe and Kyle Brennecke, 162, $732 each; 6. Jared Keylon, 161; 7. Seth Hardwick, 160, $325; 8. Heath Ford, 159, $244. Steer wrestling: Final round: 1. Billy Bugenig, 4.0 seconds, $1,247; 2. Matt Reeves, 4.1, $1,032; 3. Crazy Clark, 4.3, $817; 4. (tie) Weston Taylor, Jacob Shofner and Colt Stearns, 4.4, $401 each. Average: 1. Billy Bugenig, 12.0 seconds on three runs, $3,214; 2. Colt Stearns, 12.4, $2,794; 3. Crazy Clark, 12.7, $2,375; 4. Matt Reeves, 13.3, $1,956; 5. Jacob Shofner, 13.6, $1,537; 6. (tie) Weston Taylor, Blair Jones and Monty Eakin, 14.8, $699 each. Team roping: Final round: 1. (tie)  Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper and Chad Masters/Clay O’Briend Cooper, 5.4 seconds, $961; 3. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 5.5, $689; 4. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 5.7, $508; 5. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 5,8, $326; 6. Drew Horner/Justin Copp, $181. Average: 1. Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 16.5 seconds on three runs, $3,781; 12. (tie) Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper and Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 16.6, $3,041 each; 4. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 16.9, $2,302; 5. (tie) Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza and Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 17.2; $1,562 each; 7. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 18.4, $822; 8. Drew Horner/Justin Copp, 18.7, $329. Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Chuck Schmidt, 88 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Wild Bill, $1,650; 2. Taos Muncy, 87, $1,250; 3. (tie) Cody DeMoss and Cort Scheer, 83, $750 each; 5. Cole Elshere, 81, $350; 6. Spencer Wright, 90, $250. Average: 1. Chuck Schmidt, 169 points on two  Continue Reading »

We’re bucking bulls in Dodge City, but here are the results so far. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 31-Aug. 5 All-Around Champion: Cody DeMoss, $4,041 in team roping and saddle bronc riding. Bareback riding: Final round: 1. Steven Dent, 89 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Pillow Talk, $1,650; 2. Will Lowe, 85, $1,250; 3. (tie) Jared Keylon and Steven Peebles, 83, $750 each; 5. Kyle Brennecke, 82, $350; 6. Wes Stevenson, 81, $250. Average: 1. Steven Dent, 166 points on two rides, $2,441; 2. Steven Peebles, 165, $1,871; 3. Matt Bright, 164, $1,383; 4. (tie) Will Lowe and Kyle Brennecke, 162, $732 each; 6. Jared Keylon, 161; 7. Seth Hardwick, 160, $325; 8. Heath Ford, 159, $244. Steer wrestling: Final round: 1. Billy Bugenig, 4.0 seconds, $1,247; 2. Matt Reeves, 4.1, $1,032; 3. Crazy Clark, 4.3, $817; 4. (tie) Weston Taylor, Jacob Shofner and Colt Stearns, 4.4, $401 each. Average: 1. Billy Bugenig, 12.0 seconds on three runs, $3,214; 2. Colt Stearns, 12.4, $2,794; 3. Crazy Clark, 12.7, $2,375; 4. Matt Reeves, 13.3, $1,956; 5. Jacob Shofner, 13.6, $1,537; 6. (tie) Weston Taylor, Blair Jones and Monty Eakin, 14.8, $699 each. Team roping: Final round: 1. (tie)  Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper and Chad Masters/Clay O’Briend Cooper, 5.4 seconds, $961; 3. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 5.5, $689; 4. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 5.7, $508; 5. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 5,8, $326; 6. Drew Horner/Justin Copp, $181. Average: 1. Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 16.5 seconds on three runs, $3,781; 12. (tie) Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper and Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 16.6, $3,041 each; 4. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 16.9, $2,302; 5. (tie) Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza and Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 17.2; $1,562 each; 7. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 18.4, $822; 8. Drew Horner/Justin Copp, 18.7, $329. Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Chuck Schmidt, 88 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Wild Bill, $1,650; 2. Taos Muncy, 87, $1,250; 3. (tie) Cody DeMoss and Cort Scheer, 83, $750 each; 5. Cole Elshere, 81, $350; 6. Spencer Wright, 90, $250. Average: 1. Chuck Schmidt, 169 points on two rides, $2,199; 2. Cort Scheer, 167, $1,686; 3. Taos Muncy, 165, $1,246; 4. Cody DeMoss, 163, $806; 5. J.J. Elshere, 161, $513; 6. Sterling Crawley, 160, $366; 7. Cole Elshere, 159, $293; 8. (tie) Spencer Wright and Cody Martin, 158, $110 each. Tie-down roping: Final round: 1. Justin Maass, 7.9 seconds, $1,247; 2. Cody Ohl, 8.5, $1,032; 3. Ace Slone, 9.2, $817; 4. Chris Neal, 9.4, $602; 5. Clayton Shaw, 9.6, $387; 6. Billy Hamilton, 9.8, $215. Average: 1. Justin Maass, 25.1 seconds on three runs, $3,818; 2. Cody Ohl, 26.0, $3,320; 3. Ace Slone, 27.7, $2,822, 4. Clayton Shaw, 29.7, $2,324; 5. (tie) Chris Neal and Houston Hutto, 31.3, $1,577; 7. Billy Hamilton, 32.4, $830; 8. Ryan C. Thibodeaux, 34.9, $332. Barrel racing: Final round: 1. Kaley Bass, 16.87 seconds, $1,429; 3. Christy Loflin, 16.94, $1,072; 3. Jane Melby, 17.06, $715; 4. Whitney Baker, 17.13, $357. Average: 1. Kaley Bass, 51.03 seconds on three runs, $2,894; 2. Jane Melby, 51.40, $2,480; 3. Whitney Baker, 51.49, $2,067; 4. Jean Winters, 51.50, $1,792; 5. Chirsty Loflin, 51.51, $1,378; 6. (tie) Gretchen Benbenek and Tammi Pettis, 51.86, $965 each; 8. Fallon Taylor, 52.41, $551; 9. Micah Samples, 52.68, $413; 10. Hayden Segelke, 56.55, $276.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Winning in rodeo is like an art; oftentimes it takes talent, but it definitely helps to draw well. The top cowboys in the world of roughstock have done so at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, which will have a special Xtreme Bulls Tour competition that features the top 40 bull riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The Lea County Xtreme Bulls begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the rodeo takes place at the same time Wednesday-Saturday, all at Jake McClure Arena in Lovington. In rodeo, contestants are matched with their animal counterparts by a blind computer draw, and roughstock cowboys have the opportunity to test their talents, and their mettle, with some of the sport’s greatest animal athletes from Carr Pro Rodeo. “It’s a great rodeo,” said Cody Teel of Kountze, Texas, the top-ranked bull rider in the world standings. “Last year was my first year there, and I like that rodeo. Now that they’re having the bull riding there, too, it’s a shot to win a bunch more money.” Teel will try his hand on Carr’s Private Eyes on Friday night. He’ll also be trying to wrangle the inaugural Lea County Xtreme Bulls title. “It means a lot to have a bull like that, especially at a rodeo like Lovington,” he said. “That’s a bull I can win on if I ride him. He’s really good. “It topped off a good week where I have a lot of good bulls drawn.” His traveling partner has drawn pretty well, too. Trey Benton III of Rock Island, Texas, is matched Friday with Carr’s Time Out, a bull that was selected to buck at last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I’ve seen that quite a bit, and I know my buddy, Chandler Bownds, won Lovington on that bull last year,” said Benton, the No. 3 bull rider who leads the Rookie of the Year standings. “He’ll come out, hop and skip a little bit. He’s supposed to be really good.” That makes a big difference, and Howdy Cloud knows it as well as anyone. Cloud, a three-time NFR qualifier from Kountze, has drawn Carr’s Motown for Tuesday’s Xtreme Bulls. It’s refreshing for him to see that kind of bull after having to sit out a good portion of this season because of injury. “That’s really good for me,” he said. “I just really started back over the Fourth (of July). I’ve got a bull they told me was really good. “In the Xtremes, just getting one rode and making it back to the short round is a good thing, and the deal is that if you get two rode, you get to make some serious money.” It’s not just bull riding that offers a big payday. The Lea County Fair and Rodeo is part of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour, a series of 23 lucrative rodeos. The top bareback riders in the game will be featured on some of the greatest bucking horses, like NFR qualifiers Casey Colletti and Heath Ford, who will ride Carr’s Grass Dancer; three-time world champion Will Lowe and Carr’s Big Lights; and reigning world champion Kaycee Feild and Carr’s Real Deal, the 2005 Bareback Horse of the Year. Saddle bronc riding will feature some outstanding match-ups with Carr animals, too: NFR qualifier Jesse Bail will try NFR bucking horse Empty Pockets; NFR qualifier Chet Johnson will test Couch Jumper; NFR qualifier Isaac Diaz vs. Cowboy Cowtown; and world champion Jesse Kruse and 2010 Lovington winner Louie Brunson match up with Air Miles. “Any time you get to a rodeo like that and draw well, then it’s an awesome feeling,” said Troy Crowser, the 2010 Rookie of the Year, who has drawn Cool Runnings, a horse that has been a standout at virtually every rodeo it has worked. “These rodeos pay two to three times better than any other rodeo you go to. Crowser finished 19th in the world standings in 2011. He’s 24th heading into this week’s competition, so he’s got some work to do if he hopes to finish the regular season in the top 15 in order to qualify for the NFR. “I’m sitting right on the bubble like I ended up last year,” said Crowser, of Whitewood, S.D. “I’ve got some high hopes I can get over that hump.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Little Brother has been a little busy this week in western Kansas, and the cowboys like it. The J.K. Rodeo Co. horse guided Matt Bright of Azle, Texas, to the first-round win at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. The 84-point ride happened during Wednesday’s opening night and helped the two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier to a $2,441 payday. “That’s the kind of bucking horse you like to get on,” Bright said. “He’s the kind that you know you can make the short round on in Dodge City.” Then on Saturday night, Little Brother matched moves with J.J. Elshere of for 83 points. Elshere, a four-time NFR qualifier from Quinn, S.D., finished third in the first round and earned $1,246. Just as important as the money is that both cowboys return for the championship round, which will begin at 7:45 p.m. Sunday; now they’ll ride for the coveted buckle that goes to each event winner. “That’s a nice horse,” Elshere said. “I’ve seen him quite a bit in bareback riding. He feels good, but he’s definitely bucking. I’ve seen in just one other time in bronc riding, but I was tickled to have him.” While it’s rare that a bronc can lead cowboys to the pay window in separate events in a given rodeo, it happens, especially with the high-quality horses. “Some horses get to buck in both events, and Little Brother is a horse that’s been to the NFR twice in bareback riding,” said Kirsten Vold, general manager for Harry Vold Rodeo Co., the primary livestock provider in Dodge City. “He’s also a strong contender to go to the finals this year in bronc riding. “I’d say about 10 (percent) to 15 percent of horses can go in both events like that.” That seems to work out just fine for the best cowboys in the game, too. “I think he’s just one that can handle either event just the same,” Elshere said. “He has the same trip in bareback riding – he jumps in the air and drops out of there.” Elshere owns a Roundup Rodeo buckle, earning the 2007 bronc riding title. He’s been bitten by the injury bug this year, so he’s missed a portion of the season with that. Now he’s back to doing what he loves. “When you draw the good ones like that horse, it helps out quite a bit,” he said. Sunday’s short go-round will feature the top 12 contestants from the previous rounds except in saddle bronc riding, where six cowboys scored 78 points to finish the first round in a tie for 10th place. That means 15 will compete in the finale. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 31-Aug. 5 Bareback riding leaders and final-round qualifiers: 1. Matt Bright, 84 points on J.K. Rodeo’s Little Brother, 84 points, $2,441; 2. Seth Hardwick, 83, $1,871; 3. Steven Peebles, 82, $1,383; 4. Heath Ford, 81, $895; 5. (tie) Justin McDaniel and Kyle Brennecke, 80, $488; 7. Richie Champion, 70, $325; 8. Jared Keylon, 78, $244; 9. (tie) Wes Stevenson, Will Lowe, Joe Gunderson and Steven Dent, 77. Steer wrestling: First round results: 1. Billy Bugenig, 3.7 seconds, $2,142; 2. Seth Brockman, 3.8, $1,863; 3. Riley York, 3.9; $1,583; 4. Colt Sterns, 4.0, $1,304; 5. (tie) Bray Armes and Ethen Thouvenell, 4.1, $885 each; 7. Wade Sumpter, 4.2, $466; 8. Brandon Volker, 4.3, $186 Second round leaders: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 3.2 seconds, $2,142; 2. Jake Rinehart, 3.6, $1863; 3. (tie) Crazy Clark and Josh Peek, 3.9, $1,444 each; 5. Kamry Dymmek, 3.9, $745; 6. Colt Stearns, 4.0, $475; 7. Jacob Shofner, 4.1, $466; 8. (tie) Billy Bugenig and Zack Cobb, 3.6, $93. Average leaders and final-round qualifiers: 1. Billy Bugenig and Colt Stearns, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 3. Crazy Clark, 8.4; 4. (tie) Jacob Shofner and Matt Reeves, 9.2; 6. Kamry Dymmek and Monty Eakin, 9.7; 8.Ethen Thouvenell, 9.8; 9. (tie) Kyle Whitaker and Blair Jones, 10.1; 11. Weston Taylor, 10.4; 12. (tie) Kody Woodward and Clayton Morrison (Morrison qualifies for the final round based on the tie-breaker). Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Caleb Schmidt/Joel Bach, 4.9 seconds, $2,521 each; 2. (tie) Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper and Eirch Rogers/Kory Koontz, 5.1, $2,028; 4. (tie) Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson and Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 5.2, $1,370; 6. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 5.4, $877; 7. Aaron Tsinigine/Caleb Twisselman, 5.5, $548; 8. Ryan Von Ahn/Derrick Peterson, 5.6, $219. Second round leaders: 1. Speed Williams/Coleman Proctor, 4.4 seconds, $2,521; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Cody DeMoss, 4.5, $2,192; 3. (tie) Chace Thompson/Cole Davison, Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper and Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 4.9, $1,534 each; 5. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, Garrett Tonozzi/Kinny Harrell and Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 5.1, $548; 7. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 5.3; 8. Eric Flurry/Billie Saebens, 5.4. Average leaders and final-round qualifiers: 1. Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 10.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 11.1; 3. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly,11.2; 4. Caleb Smidt/Joel Bach, 11.3; 5. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan and Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper, 11.4; 7. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 11.7; 8. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 11.9; 9. Drew Horner/Justin Copp, 12.7; 10. Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross, 12.8; 11. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torrres, 13.3; 12. Arky Rogers/Clint Summers, 13.3. Saddle bronc riding results and final-round qualifiers: 1. Sterling Crawley, on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Table Talk, and Cort Scheer, on Frontier Rodeo Co’s Too Cool, 84 points; 3. Cody Martin, 81; 4. (tie) Bradley Harter, Luke Butterfield and Cody DeMoss, 80; 7. (tie) Taos Muncy, Chet Johnson and Will Smith, 78. Tie-down roping: First round results: 1. (tie) Bradley Bynum and Hunter Herrin, 8.4 seconds, $2,379 each; 3. Clayton Shaw, 8.5, $1,881; 4. Colt Carter, 8.8, $1,549; 5. Cody Ohl, 9.0, $1,217; 6. (tie) Justin Maass and Riley Pruitt, 9.1, $719; 8. Blake Eliason, 9.4, $221. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Maass, 8.1 seconds, $2,545; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.2, $2,213; 3. (tie) Cody Ohl and Ben Madsen, 8.5, $1,715 each; 5. Riley Pruitt, 8.6, $1,217; 6. Ace Slone, 8.7, $855; 7. Houston Hutto, 8.8, $553; 8.  Continue Reading »

Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Sterling Crawley, on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Table Talk, and Cort Scheer, on Frontier Rodeo Co’s Too Cool, 84 points, $1,942 each; 3. J.J. Elshere, 83, $1,246; 4. (tie) Cody Martin and Chuck Schmidt, 81, $660; 6. (tie) Bradley Harter, Luke Butterfield and Cody DeMoss, 80, $293; 9. Alex Wright, 79; 10. Taos Muncy, Chet Johnson, Will Smith, Spencer Wright, Jake Wright and Cole Elshere, 78. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Bradley Bynum and Hunter Herrin, 8.4 seconds; 3. Clayton Shaw, 8.5; 4. Colt Carter, 8.8; 5. Cody Ohl, 9.0; 6. (tie) Justin Maass and Riley Pruitt, 9.1; 8. Blake Eliason, 9.4. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Maass, 8.1 seconds; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.2; 3. (tie) Cody Ohl and Ben Madsen, 8.5; 5. Riley Pruitt, 8.6; 6. Ace Slone, 8.7; 7. Houston Hutto, 8.8; 8. Caleb Smidt, 9.4. Average leaders: 1. Hunter Herrin, 16.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Justin Maass, 18.2; 3. Cody Ohl, 17.5; 4. Riley Pruitt, 17.7; 5. Ace Slone, 18.5; 6. Bradley Bynum, 18.9; 7. Houston Hutto, 19.7; 8. Clayton Shaw, 20.1. Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Kaley Bass, 17.12; 2. Hayden Segelke, 17.14; 3. Benette Little, 17.25; 4. Whitney Baker, 17.26; 5. Sharin Hall, 17.34; 6. (tie) Tammi Pettis and Gretchen Benbenek, 17.36; 8. Jeanne Anderson, 17.39; 9. (tie) Sabrina Ketcham and Christy Loflin, 17.43. Second round leaders: 1. Hayden Segelke, 16.95 seconds; 2. Kaley Bass, 17.04; 3. Kyra Stierwalt, 17.06; 4. Whitney Baker, 17.10; 5. (tie) Christy Loflin and Sara Withers, 17.14; 7. Cindy Smith, 17.17; 8. Micah Samples, 17.19; 9. Tammi Pettis, 17.24; 10. Gretchen Benbenek, 17.32. Average leaders: 1. Hayden Segelke, 34.09 seconds on two runs; 2. Kaley Bass, 34.16; 3. Whitney Baker, 34.36; 4. Christy Loflin, 34.57; 5. Tammi Pettis, 34.60; 6. Gretchen Benbenek, 34.68; 7. Micah Samples, 34.82; 8. Sherri Dean, 34.91; 9. Sara Withers, 34.93; 10. Paige Conrado, 34.96; 11. Kim Schulze, 35.02; 12. Hollie Etbauer, 35.03. Bull riding: 1. Nevada Newman, 89 points on Four L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Cowboy Crusader, $2,384. 2. Brant Atwood, 88, $1,282; 3. Josh Koschel, 85, $1,351; 4. Trey Benton III, 84, $874; 5. (tie) Buck Moon and Cooper Davis, 81, $477 each; 7. (tie) Kanin Asay and Jordan Hupp, 80, $278; 9. (tie) Tyler Willis and Lane Wilhelm, 78; 11. Cody Teel, 77; 12. Brad Harris, 76.

Bareback riding leaders and final-round qualifiers: 1. Matt Bright, 84 points on J.K. Rodeo’s Little Brother, 84 points, $2,441; 2. Seth Hardwick, 83, $1,871; 3. Steven Peebles, 82, $1,383; 4. Heath Ford, 81, $895; 5. (tie) Justin McDaniel and Kyle Brennecke, 80, $488; 7. Richie Champion, 70, $325; 8. Jared Keylon, 78, $244; 9. (tie) Wes Stevenson, Will Lowe, Joe Gunderson and Steven Dent, 77. Steer wrestling: First round results: 1. Billy Bugenig, 3.7 seconds, $2,142; 2. Seth Brockman, 3.8, $1,863; 3. Riley York, 3.9; $1,583; 4. Colt Sterns, 4.0, $1,304; 5. (tie) Bray Armes and Ethen Thouvenell, 4.1, $885 each; 7. Wade Sumpter, 4.2, $466; 8. Brandon Volker, 4.3, $186 Second round leaders: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 3.2 seconds, $2,142; 2. Jake Rinehart, 3.6, $1863; 3. (tie) Crazy Clark and Josh Peek, 3.9, $1,444 each; 5. Kamry Dymmek, 3.9, $745; 6. Colt Stearns, 4.0, $475; 7. Jacob Shofner, 4.1, $466; 8. (tie) Billy Bugenig and Zack Cobb, 3.6, $93. Average leaders and final-round qualifiers: 1. Billy Bugenig and Colt Stearns, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 3. Crazy Clark, 8.4; 4. (tie) Jacob Shofner and Matt Reeves, 9.2; 6. Kamry Dymmek and Monty Eakin, 9.7; 8.Ethen Thouvenell, 9.8; 9. (tie) Kyle Whitaker and Blair Jones, 10.1; 11. Weston Taylor, 10.4; 12. (tie) Kody Woodward and Clayton Morrison (Morrison qualifies for the final round based on the tie-breaker). Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Caleb Schmidt/Joel Bach, 4.9 seconds, $2,521 each; 2. (tie) Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper and Eirch Rogers/Kory Koontz, 5.1, $2,028; 4. (tie) Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson and Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 5.2, $1,370; 6. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 5.4, $877; 7. Aaron Tsinigine/Caleb Twisselman, 5.5, $548; 8. Ryan Von Ahn/Derrick Peterson, 5.6, $219. Second round leaders: 1. Speed Williams/Coleman Proctor, 4.4 seconds, $2,521; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Cody DeMoss, 4.5, $2,192; 3. (tie) Chace Thompson/Cole Davison, Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper and Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 4.9, $1,534 each; 5. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, Garrett Tonozzi/Kinny Harrell and Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 5.1, $548; 7. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 5.3; 8. Eric Flurry/Billie Saebens, 5.4. Average leaders and final-round qualifiers: 1. Brady Tryan/Cole Echols, 10.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 11.1; 3. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly,11.2; 4. Caleb Smidt/Joel Bach, 11.3; 5. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan and Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper, 11.4; 7. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 11.7; 8. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 11.9; 9. Drew Horner/Justin Copp, 12.7; 10. Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross, 12.8; 11. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torrres, 13.3; 12. Arky Rogers/Clint Summers, 13.3.

Walking around behind the chutes at Roundup Arena, I find a lot of interesting tales coming out of Dodge City. Some I’m able to capture as an image. You can find them HERE.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – With sports comes injury. For those with the right mindset, return isn’t just planned, it’s expected. Such is the case with bareback rider Steven Peebles and saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer, who know what months on ProRodeo’s injury list and hours in the rehab center every day can do. Scheer tore his right ACL and meniscus last June and missed the rest of the 2011 season; Peebles dislocated his right ankle and broke nine bones in his right leg at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. They’re back, and on Friday night at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, the proved it. Peebles, of Redmond, Ore., rode Frontier Rodeo Co.’s Creek for 82 points and moved into third place in bareback riding, securing a spot in Sunday’s championship round. Scheer, of Elsmere, Neb., matched moves with Frontier’s Too Cool for 84 points to move into a share of the bronc riding lead with Sterling Crawley. “I didn’t know a lot about her,” Peebles said of Creek. “I talked to a few guys, and they said she was definitely one of the ones to make the short-go on.” It’s also a chance for Peebles to make some much needed cash. He sat out the first four months of 2012 before returning to the game, so he still has some ground to make up if he hopes to make it to the NFR for a fourth straight year. He sits 14th in the world standings, and only the top 15 make it to ProRodeo’s grand finale. “I’ve never made the short round here,” said Peebles, the 2009 bareback riding rookie of the year. “This is a very nice change, especially since I’m trying to make a comeback.” Scheer attended Garden City (Kan.) Community College and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He worked his way up the rodeo food chain, and in 2010, qualified for the NFR. The ACL replacement surgery seems to be just a hiccup, though – he’s sixth in the world standings with less than two months remaining in the regular season. “It’s awesome to come back from an injury like that,” Scheer said. “Sitting out makes you crave it even more. I feel great.” So did Too Cool. Scheer had asked about the horse before the rodeo and didn’t really like what he heard. But he wanted to give the horse a chance. “They told me it was a nice horse and can be a little week,” he said. “I was just wanting to make a good spur ride, then that sucker turned out and bucked today.” That’s always a good sign to cowboys who make their livings on the backs of bucking beasts. “All the pressure of making the NFR is off, so now it’s just being able to put icing on the cake,” Scheer said. “Now you go for first. You don’t go just to make the finals; you go to win the sucker. I want to ride on the edge every time and be aggressive. “I’m not going to sit back and relax just because I’ve made it. I’m going to keep going as hard as I can.” That’s the cowboy way. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 31-Aug. 5 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Matt Bright, 84 points on J.K. Rodeo’s Little Brother, 84 points; 2. Seth Hardwick, 83; 3. Steven Peebles, 82; 4. Heath Ford, 81; 5. Justin McDaniel and Kyle Brennecke, 80; 7. Richie Champion, 70; 8. Jared Keylon, 78. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Billy Bugenig, 3.7 seconds; 2. Seth Brockman, 3.8; 3. Colt Sterns, 4.0; 4. Wade Sumpter, 4.2; 5. Brandon Volker, 4.3; 6. (tie) Clayton Morrison and Dru Melvin, 4.4; 8. Sean Mulligan, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Jake Rinehart, 3.6 seconds; 2. Crazy Clark, 3.9; 3. Kamry Dymmek, 3.9; 4. Colt Stearns, 4.0; 5. Jacob Shofner, 4.1; 6. (tie) Billy Bugenig and Zack Cobb, 3.6; 8. Kyle Irwin, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. Billy Bugenig and Colt Stearns, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 3. Crazy Clark, 8.4; 4. Jacob Shofner, 9.2; 5. Kamry Dymmek, 9.7; 6. (tie) Kyle Whitaker and Blair Jones, 10.1; 8. Weston Taylor, 10.4. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Caleb Schmidt/Joel Bach, 4.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper and Eirch Rogers/Kory Koontz, 5.1; 4. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 5.4; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Caleb Twisselman, 5.5; 6. (tie) Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross and Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 5.8; 8. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 5.9. Second round leaders: 1. Speed Williams/Coleman Proctor, 4.4 seconds; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Cody DeMoss, 4.5; 3. (tie) Chace Thompson/Cole Davison and Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 4.9; 5. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan and Garrett Tonozzi/Kinny Harrell, 5.1; 7. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 5.3; 8. Eric Flurry/Billie Saebens, 5.4. Average leaders: 1. Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 11.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly,11.2; 3. Caleb Smidt/Joel Bach, 11.3; 4. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 11.4; 5. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 11.7; 6. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 11.9; 7. Drew Horner, 8. Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross, 12.8. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Table Talk, and Cort Scheer, on Frontier Rodeo Co’s Too Cool, 84 points; 3. Cody Martin, 81; 4. (tie) Bradley Harter, Luke Butterfield and Cody DeMoss, 80; 7. (tie) Taos Muncy, Chet Johnson and Will Smith, 78. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Bradley Bynum and Hunter Herrin, 8.4 seconds; 3. Clayton Shaw, 8.5; 4. Colt Carter, 8.8; 5. Cody Ohl, 9.0; 6. (tie) Justin Maass and Riley Pruitt, 9.1; 8. Blake Eliason, 9.4. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Maass, 8.1 seconds; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.2; 3. (tie) Cody Ohl and Ben Madsen, 8.5; 5. Riley Pruitt, 8.6; 6. Ace Slone, 8.7; 7. Houston Hutto, 8.8; 8. Caleb Smidt, 9.4. Average leaders: 1. Hunter Herrin, 16.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Justin Maass, 18.2; 3. Cody Ohl, 17.5; 4. Riley Pruitt, 17.7; 5. Ace Slone, 18.5; 6. Bradley Bynum, 18.9; 7. Houston Hutto, 19.7; 8. Clayton Shaw, 20.1. Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Kaley Bass, 17.12; 2. Hayden Segelke, 17.14; 3.  Continue Reading »

The last time I was in Roundup Arena was seven years ago. There are many things that are the same, but much has changed for the better. It’s quite impressive to see the work this community has put into Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, which was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame just a few weeks ago. Here is a tease to photos that can be found HERE.

SILVERTON, Texas – A century ago, the Harrisons may have been classified as gypsies – traveling the country and working his way from town to town. John, Carla, Addison and Cazwell have come to enjoy their nomadic lifestyle, one in which they celebrate Americana as much as anyone. You see, John Harrison is a rodeo clown and entertainer who spends a couple hours most evenings helping folks relax and celebrate. The family will be in Briscoe County for Silverton’s Buck Wild Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16-Saturday, Aug. 18. It’s another part of the Harrisons lives together on the rodeo trail. “I do this for the love of the sport,” said Harrison, of Soper, Okla. “Growing up with it, you enjoy it. Now I can actually make a living at it, so that helps. “The friends and the ‘family’ you meet on the road is a big deal for us. Plus, if it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t do it.” Harrison was raised in southeastern Oklahoma to a rodeo family. His grandfather was Freckles Brown, who, in 1962, won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association bull riding world championship at the age of 42 – five years later, Brown mastered the previously unridden bull tornado during the 1967 National Finals Rodeo. Yeah, Harrison comes from a pretty good pedigree, but, really, he’s making quite a name for himself as one of the premier barrelmen and contract acts in rodeo. “I love what I do, but I’d say the best part is having my family on the road with me,” he said. “So many people have to go to work every day, drop their kids off at daycare, then not get to see them all day. I get to spend a lot of time with my kids. We get to travel, we get to see things, and I get to do something I love. My job’s fun. I love going to different towns, seeing the crowds and meeting new people. That’s great.” It helps, too, that he’s good at what he does. Harrison spent years as a trick rider/roman rider/trick roper. He still uses those skills at rodeos today, but in a different capacity. “When I started clowning, I started making a living at rodeo,” he said. “Every rodeo uses a clown, but not every rodeo uses a specialty act.” So he now has a comedy trick riding act to go along with a substantial repertoire of entertaining pieces he shares with fans at rodeos all across the country. One is Miss Rodeo Universe, a parody on the perception of rodeo queens. “Any rodeo you go to, you always hear a good rodeo queen story,” Harrison said. “There are queens falling off horses or not acting very ladylike. I just exaggerate all that. I get dressed in drag with a big ol’ hat, big boobs and a big butt.” The result is fall-out-of-your-seat comedy, and it joins together well with the high-profile action provided by Carr Pro Rodeo, a Dallas-based livestock company that produces the annual Buck Wild Days Rodeo. Pete Carr believes fans want to be entertained by a top-flight production, which is what he’ll bring to Silverton. “Pete and his crew are very easy to get along with, and he always gets the good cowboys,” Harrison said. “Pete puts on a smooth show, and a show that runs smooth makes my job easier.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Speed Williams owns eight world championships. Coleman Proctor would like to win one. If Thursday night is any indication, the two might be able to do it together sometime. Williams and Proctor turned in a 4.4-second run to take a commanding lead in the second round of team roping at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. “This is just a dream come true,” Proctor said of roping with Williams, a Llano, Texas, cowboy who won eight straight heading gold buckles from 1997-2004. “It’s a great opportunity for me. I can’t believe, still, that I get to.” Williams has slowed down some over the years. In fact, he hasn’t qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo since 2008. But he’s dipping his toes in the water again, and he’s taken Proctor along for the ride on a month-long stretch on the rodeo trail. “He hasn’t lost a step, and it’s been a great time,” said Proctor, 26, of Pryor, Okla. “We’re going to go this week, and next, then we’re going to go home for a while. “He’s going to try to win the world next year; I’m just going to try to rope good enough to keep my job. Next year I plan to go hard again. Ideally, if I get to rope with Speed again, I’ll go really hard.” Williams has qualified 15 times for the NFR, ProRodeo’s year-end championship event that takes place over 10 December days in Las Vegas. Proctor hasn’t played on the big stage just yet, but he’s got the fever. Roping with one of the greatest to have ever played the game will do that. Two years ago while competing as a header, Proctor and partner Jake Long of Coffeyville, Kan., roped in the George Strait Team Roping Classic. “The only reason I started heading was so that I could head for Jake,” Proctor said. “He started roping with somebody else, and this winter, I went back to heeling. I was burned out on heading, so this is a nice break from that.” Williams and Proctor were saddled with a no-time during the first round on Thursday morning, and their shot at the Roundup title went with it. Still, they’re in position to collect good money in the second-round payout. Of course, there’s still the dream of winning Dodge City some year. “I won the golf tournament one time, but that’s the only buckle I’ve gotten out of here,” Proctor said. “We had a no-time this morning, so we were strictly going for the go-round. “This is a good set of steers. This rodeo did great again. This is one of my favorite rodeos to go to, so, yeah, I’d love to win it.” Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 31-Aug. 5 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Matt Bright, 84 points on J.K. Rodeo’s Little Brother, 84 points; 2. Seth Hardwick, 83; 3. Heath Ford, 81; 4. Justin McDaniel and Kyle Brennecke, 80; 6. Richie Champion, 70; 7. Jared Keylon, 78; 8. (tie) Wes Stevenson/Will Lowe, 77. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Billy Bugenig, 3.7 seconds; 2. Seth Brockman, 3.8; 3. Wade Sumpter, 4.2; 4. Sean Mulligan, 4.5; 5. Nick Guy, 4.7; 6. Kyle Whitaker, 4.8; 7. Tanner Bruner, 4.9; 8. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Trell Etbauer, 5.0. Second round leaders: 1. Jake Rineharat, 3.6 seconds; 2. Billy Bugenig, 3.6; 3. Teddy Johnson, 4.6; 4. (tie) Kyle Broce and Blair Jones, 4.7; 6. Dakota W. Eldridge, 4.9; 7. Shawn Mills, 5.0; 8. Clay Mindemann, 5.1. Average leaders: 1. Billy Bugenig, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Kyle Whitaker and Blair Jones, 10.1; 4. Seth Brockman, 10.6; 5. Charlie Howell, 11.6; 6. Royce Johnson, 14.7; 7. Trell Ebauer, 18.6; 8. Sean Mulligan, 19.2. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Caleb Schmidt/Joel Bach, 4.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross and Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 5.8; 4. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly, 5.9; 5. Jeremy Mascorro/Kyle Stamps, 6.1; 6. (tie)  Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan and Brian Dunning/Toby J. Mentzer, 6.3; 8. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 6.4. Second round leaders: 1. Speed Williams/Coleman Proctor, 4.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan and Garrett Tonozzi/Kinny Harrell, 5.1; 4. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly; 5. (tie) Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza and Tyler Schaufer/Shay Carroll, 5.9; 7. Caleb Smidt/Joel Bach, 6.4; 8. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 6.9. Average leaders: 1. Turtle Powell/Dugan Kelly,11.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Caleb Smidt/Joel Bach, 11.3; 3. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 11.4; 4. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 11.7; 5. Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross, 12.8; 6. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 13.2; 7. Jeremy Mascorro/Kyle Stamps, 17.7; 8. Bobby Baize/Byron Wilkerson, 18.4. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 84 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Table Talk; 2. Cody Martin, 81; 3. Bradley Harter, 80; 4. Taos Muncy, 78; 5. (tie) Cody Taton, Ty Atchison and Lucas Wilson, 77; 8. (tie) Ryan Bestol and Jesse Bail, 76; 10. (tie) Jesse James Kirby, Cody Angland and Jacobs Crawley, 74. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Clayton Shaw, 8.5 seconds; 2. Colt Carter, 8.8; 3. (tie) Justin Maass and Riley Pruitt, 9.1; 5. Blake Eliason, 9.4; 6. (tie) Chris Neal and Trevor Thiel, 9.6; 8. Ace Slone, 9.8. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Maass, 8.1 seconds; 2. Riley Pruitt, 8.6; 3. Ace Slone, 8.7; 4. Caleb Smidt, 9.4; 5. Trell Etbauer, 10.6; 6. J.D. McCuistion, 11.5; 7. Clayton Shaw, 11.6; 8. Chris Neal, 12.3. Average leaders: 1. Justin Maass, 18.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Riley Pruitt, 17.7; 3. Ace Slone, 18.5; 4. Clayton Shaw, 20.1; 5. Chris Neal, 21.9; 6. David Moore, 25.6; 7. Blake Eliason, 28.0; 8. Adam Gray, 30.4. Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Kaley Bass, 17.12; 2. Hayden Segelke, 17.14; 3. Benette Little, 17.25; 4. Sharin Hall, 17.34; 5. Tammi Pettis, 17.36; 6. Jeanne Anderson, 17.39; 7. (tie) Sabrina Ketcham and Christy Loflin, 17.43; 9. Sally Young, 17.44; 10. Sherri Dean, 17.46. Second round leaders: 1. Hayden Segelke, 16.95 seconds; 2. Kaley Bass, 17.04; 3. Kyra Stierwalt, 17.06; 4. (tie) Christy Loflin and Sara Withers, 17.14; 6. Micah  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Producers of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo aren’t ones rest on their laurels. The annual rodeo has been a big-time draw for fans in southeastern New Mexico, featuring the very best the sport has to offer, like great animal athletes, from the two-time tie-down roping horse of the year, Sweetness, owned by Lovington High School graduate Clint Cooper, to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-caliber livestock from Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo. But the Lea County Fair Board and its rodeo committee volunteers are doing even more to make it even better, from providing more for the contestants to setting up an improved sound system to adding another great performance to an already action-packed entertainment package. The rodeo is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8-Saturday, Aug. 11 at Jake McClure Arena, but this year it will include the Lea County Xtreme Bulls tour, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7. “We’ve put in a lot of things to make our rodeo a better experience for everyone involved,” said Greg Massey, chairman of the rodeo committee. “We want the contestants to talk about our rodeo all year long, but that’s just part of it. We want our fans talking about the rodeo, too.” Everyone is getting that kind of experience. Last year’s fair attendance was a record 97,928, and the rodeo featured many of the top 15 contestants in each event who went on to qualify for the 2011 NFR. Part of the draw for ProRodeo’s elite is the large purse that’s available, but also because the Lea County Fair and Rodeo is part of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour. “That’s helped us in a lot of ways, because we have the back-to-back format where the contestants can come to town, run in both go-rounds in the same day, then go on to the next rodeo,” said Dean Jackson, chairman of the fair board. “Since we’ve started this, we’ve had more of the contestants wanting to be here.” In each of the timed events, steer ropers, steer wrestlers, tie-down ropers and team ropers will compete in the first round in the afternoon. The cowboys with the best times in each event will return for the performances each evening, while the others will make their second-round runs that same afternoon. “We’ve set it up in the afternoon to really help those guys that are traveling,” Massey said. “We’ll have some that will come in from Sikeston (Mo.).” It’ll take contestants about 15 hours to get from the eastern Missouri community to Lovington, so they need as much time as possible just to make the trek. That’s one reason why the committee has made the move for the afternoon competition. “There are a lot of rodeos that weekend,” Massey said. “There aren’t many that are in our area; with today’s economy, they’re trying to travel as few a distance as possible, so we want them to be able to make it here and have a chance to win our fair and rodeo.” A key drawing card for saddle bronc riders, bareback riders and bull riders is that Carr is the primary stock contractor, now in his sixth year in Lovington. “Pete Carr is at the top of his game,” Massey said. “I don’t understand why he doesn’t win stock contractor of the year. He has outstanding stock, and he wants it to be the very best it can be “I think we’re very fortunate to have Pete at our rodeo.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Steer wrestler Billy Bugenig was never so happy to see Aug. 1 come. “I had a really slow month of July, so yesterday in Phillipsburg, I told my traveling buddies that July was over, so we can start doing better tomorrow,” Bugenig said Wednesday after posting runs of 3.7 seconds and 4.3 seconds to take the early steer wrestling lead at the 2012 Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. All timed-event contestants compete in two go-rounds at Roundup Arena – the first takes place each day starting at 8 a.m. The top 10 times from that round earn a shot to compete in the performances, which begin at 7:45 p.m. The schedule runs that way through Saturday night, then the top 12 contestants in the two-run aggregate qualify for Sunday’s championship round. “It’s an important rodeo to do well at,” said Bugenig, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Ferndale, Calif. “Any rodeo where there’s 90 guys entered and you have a short round, it’s important because you can rack up a lot of dollars in each of the rounds and the average. At a rodeo like this, we have an opportunity to win $2,000 a round.” That’s big in rodeo, because money not only helps pay the bills, it’s also how championship points are tallied. The top 15 money winners in each event at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the NFR, ProRodeo’s grand finale that takes place each December in Las Vegas. The contestant in each event who finishes the year with the most money is crowned world champion. Two years ago, Bugenig won a share of the NFR average championship with eventual champion Dean Gorsuch – the average title is considered by many in rodeo as the second most prestigious title, because it recognizes the most consistent cowboys and cowgirls in each event during the rugged 10-day test in the Nevada desert. “It’s also important to do good at the tour rodeos,” he said, mentioning that Roundup Rodeo is part of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour, a series of 23 lucrative events. “Hopefully we can be standing here Sunday, too.” There are a set of goals for each contestant in Dodge City. Every cowboy and cowgirl wants to do well in each of the go-rounds; then they want to qualify for Sunday’s short go-round. Once there, the event championship, and the prestigious buckle that goes with it, is the final piece of an elaborate puzzle. Bugenig has never earned that buckle, though he’s made the short round in two of his three previous trips to Roundup. Of course, any money won in western Kansas goes a long ways to that elusive world title. Bugenig is 19th in the world standings, so he has some ground to make up. “My goal is to win as much money as I can and get back to the finals and try for a gold buckle,” he said. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 31-Aug. 5 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Matt Bright, 84 points on J.K. Rodeo’s Little Brother, 84 points; 2. Seth Hardwick, 83; 3. Richie Champion, 70; 4. (tie) Wes Stevenson/Will Lowe, 77; 6. Tom McFarland, 75; 7. George Gillespie IV, 72; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Billy Bugenig, 3.7 seconds; 2. Seth Brockman, 3.8; 3. Wade Sumpter, 4.2; 4. Sean Mulligan, 4.5; 5. Nick Guy, 4.7; 6. Kyle Whitaker, 4.8; 7. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Trell Etbauer, 5.0. Second round leaders: 1. Jake Rineharat, 3.6 seconds; 2. Billy Bugenig, 3.6; 3. (tie) Kyle Broce and Blair Jones, 4.7; 5. Dakota W. Eldridge, 4.9; 6. Shawn Mills, 5.0; 7. Kyle Whitaker, 5.3; 8. Seth Brockman, 6.8. Average leaders: 1. Billy Bugenig, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Kyle Whitaker and Blair Jones, 10.1; 4. Seth Brockman, 10.6; 5. Trell Ebauer, 18.6; 6. Sean Mulligan, 19.2; 7. Travis Carnine, 29.8; 8. Jake Rinehart, 3.6 on one. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Caleb Schmidt/Joel Bach, 4.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross and Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 5.8; 4. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 6.3; 5. Casey Mahoney/Buddy Hawkins II, 6.7; 6. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 6.8; 7. Bobby Baize/Byron Wilkerson, 6.9; 8. Jake Day/Lance Allen, 7.5. Second round leaders: 1. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 5.1 seconds; 2. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 5.9; 3. Caleb Smidt/Joel Bach, 6.4; 4. Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross, 7.0; Bobby Baize/Byron Wilkerson, 11.5. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt/Joel Bach, 11.3 seconds on two; 2. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 11.4; 3. Blaine Linaweaver/Matt Garza, 11.7; 4. Scooter Nolen Jr./Tim Ross, 12.8; 5. Bobby Baize/Byron Wilkerson, 18.4; 6. Casey Mahoney/Buddy Hawkins II, 6.7 seconds on one; 7. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 6.8; 8. Jake Day/Lance Allen, 7.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 84 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Table Talk; 2. Taos Muncy, 78; 3. Cody Taton, 77; 4. (tie) Ryan Bestol and Jesse Bail, 76; 6. (tie) Cody Angland and Jacobs Crawley, 74. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Clayton Shaw, 8.5 seconds; 2. Colt Carter, 8.8; 3. Justin Maass, 9.1; 4. (tie) Chris Neal and Trevor Thiel, 9.6; 6. Ace Slone, 9.8; 7. Josh Eirikson, 11.3; 8. Paul David Tierney, 11.8. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Maass, 8.1 seconds; 2. Ace Slone, 8.7; 3. Caleb Smidt, 9.4; 4. Trell Etbauer, 10.6; 5. Clayton Shaw, 11.6; 6. Chris Neal, 12.3; 7. Adam Gray, 18.3; 8. Paul David Tierney, 19.5. Average leaders: 1. Justin Maass, 18.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Ace Slone, 18.5; 3. Clayton Shaw, 20.1; 4. Chris Neal, 21.9; 5. Adam Gray, 30.4; 6. Paul David Tierney, 31.3; 7. Colt Carter, 8.8 seconds on one; 8. Caleb Smidt, 9.4. Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Hayden Segelke, 17.14 seconds; 2. Tammi Pettis, 17.36; 3. Jeanne Anderson, 17.39; 4. Sabrina Ketcham, 17.43; 5. Sally Young, 17.44; 6. Sherri Dean, 17.46; 7. Kim Schulze, 17.56; 8. Paige Conrado, 17.57. Second round leaders: 1. Hayden Segelke, 16.95 seconds; 2. Kyra Stierwalt, 17.06 seconds; 3. Tammi Pettis, 17.24; 4. Angie Meadors,  Continue Reading »

SILVERTON, Texas – Every cowboy knows he needs a good horse underneath him if he is to be successful. The members of the Buck Wild Days Rodeo committee know that, too, which is why Pete Carr and his staff from Carr Pro Rodeo are producing the Silverton event for the third straight year. “All the cowboys know they’ll get good stock when they go to one of Pete’s rodeos,” said Ken Wood, chairman of the annual rodeo, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16-Saturday, Aug. 18. “We know we’re able to get the best contestants because of it.” Why? The main reason is bareback riders and saddle bronc riders just want a chance to compete for the prize money. If a cowboy is matched with a good horse, it comes down to his ability to do the right things as the animal performs. “We want our rodeos to be a riding contest, where the guy with the best spur ride wins,” said Carr, owner of the Dallas-based livestock company. The cowboys appreciate it, too. “You definitely want to go somewhere that you have a chance to win,” said Casey Sisk of Corona, N.M. “Pete’s got a great pen of bucking horses, the kind you like getting on.” It doesn’t matter if the cowboy uses a bronc saddle or a bareback rigging. Contestants keep an eye out for rodeos that carry animals emblazoned with the Rafter C brand. “Anytime I draw a Pete Carr horse, I know I will probably win money,” said Cody DeMers, a four-time NFR qualifier from Kimberly, Idaho. “That’s why I go to his rodeos.” In 2011, Carr had 11 horses selected to perform at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, ProRodeo’s season-ending championship – eight bareback horses and three broncs. In that mix stalwarts like MGM Deuces Night, Dirty Jacket and recognized animals like Real Deal, the 2005 Bareback Riding Horse of the Year, and River Boat Annie, the 2007 reserve world champion bucking horse. “Pete really strives to have the best horses he can get,” said Heath Ford, a three-time NFR qualifier who also serves as the bareback riding representative. “He spends money on them. He’ has one of the most solid pens going down the road.” Fans in Silverton have taken note, too. What they’ll see in Wood Memorial Arena is great action from start to finish. “Pete’s got an eye for good horses and is always trying to make his stock better,” said saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Desdemona, Texas. “Pete’s constantly worried about whether we’re happy, which is good. There are a lot of contractors out there who could care less if we’re happy. Pete’s the opposite. He does what he can to keep us happy. “At most of the smaller rodeos we go to, you don’t have a chance to draw good. At least at Pete’s rodeos, you know you have a good shot of getting on something you can win on. Then it’s just up to you to ride well enough to do it.”

The first portion of competition at the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo is complete. Chance Kelton of Mayer, Ariz., won the steer roping average championship in Dodge City, roping and tying down three steers in 37.0 seconds. He won $3,832. The first performance begins at 7:45 Wednesday, Aug. 1. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo July 31-Aug. 5 Steer roping: First round: 1. Cody Lee, 10.5 seconds, $1,610; 2. Buster Record Jr., 10.5, $1,333; 3. (tie) Vin Fisher Jr. and Landon McClaugherty, 11.8, $916 each; 5. Chance Kelton, 12.7, $500; 6. J.B Whatley, 12.9, $278. Second round: 1. J.P. Wickett, 10.8 seconds, $1,610; 2. Chet Herren, 11.5, $1,333; 3. Chris Glover, 11.6, $1,055; 4. (tie) Chance Kelton and Landon McClaugherty, 11.8, $639 each; 6. Justin McKee, 12.4, $278. Third round: 1. Trevor Brazile, 10.9 seconds, $1,610; 2. Cody Garnett, 11.6, $1,333; 3. Chris Glover, 11.8, $1,055; 4. Justin McKee, 12.0, $777; 5. Marty Jones, 12.1; $500; 6. Chance Kelton, 12.5, $278. Average: 1. Chance Kelton, 37.0 seconds on three, $2,415; 2. Justin McKee, 38.8, $1,999; 3. Rocky Patterson, 42.0, $1,582; 4. Chet Herren, 44.7, $1,166; 5. Chris Glover, 46.8, $750; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 23.6 seconds on two, $416.